UFC Fight Night 276: Santos Favored Over Choi Amid Injury Concerns

Dooho Choi and Daniel Santos are set to meet in the featherweight co-feature bout at UFC Fight Night 276, scheduled to take place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday. The contest, which is expected to commence at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live on Paramount+. The matchup has drawn scrutiny from analysts regarding the physical condition of both competitors, particularly given recent injury histories that have impacted their availability and performance.

Choi, who holds a professional record of 16-4-1 in mixed martial arts and 5-3-1 within the UFC, enters the bout following two consecutive victories. His most recent win came in December 2024 at UFC 310, where he secured a third-round finish against Nate Landwehr, preceded by a second-round stoppage of Bill Algeo. A longtime favourite among fans for his action-oriented style, Choi has returned to the octagon after a period of inactivity. However, the initial booking of this fight was delayed due to a knee injury, raising questions about his current level of fitness and readiness for the upcoming contest.

Daniel Santos, carrying a record of 13-2 in MMA and 4-1 in the UFC, aims to extend his winning streak to five fights. The Brazilian fighter, who hails from Chute Boxe, recently defeated Joo Sang You via second-round stoppage at UFC 320 in October 2025. Santos has previously faced multiple Korean opponents within the organisation and has historically struggled with making the featherweight limit. Despite these past challenges with the scale, analysts note that his durability and power appear to translate effectively at 145 pounds.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom has predicted a victory for Santos, citing the Brazilian’s resilience and the potential impact of Choi’s recent health issues. Tom noted that while Choi’s action-fighting sensibilities make him a dangerous opponent, the uncertainty surrounding his knee injury complicates the forecast. Tom suggested that Santos may pull away down the stretch to secure a late finish, although he acknowledged that Santos’ own reliability and fight IQ have been inconsistent in previous bouts.

The betting markets and public sentiment currently favour Santos, with FanDuel listing him at -164 compared to Choi at +134. Given the aggressive styles of both fighters and the health concerns surrounding the bout, Tom anticipates a high-exchange fight that could potentially win the 'Fight of the Night' bonus. The outcome remains speculative, with the analyst expressing semi-reluctance in the prediction due to the unknown variables regarding Choi’s recovery and Santos’ historical struggles with weight and dependability.